The Pulpit Commentary — Acts — Volume 1 — Section 446

With eager, eympathetio, rejoicing epirite the assembly must have received the nnrrativo. How grnteful m\18t hav•J been the pee.Ima, how fervent the prayers, how heartfelt the congratulations, that followed! A work is not crowned until its story has been told to those who bad a real and living part in its initiation and its procedure. IV. IT WAS FOLLOWED BY INVIGORATING REST (ver. 28}-the r011t of (1) happy human followship and (2) appreciated service.--0. Ver. 27.-" The dO<Yf' of faith." When may it be said that God has "opened the door of faith" through which men may ant.er? Thie is true, ae described in the text when- I. 'fHE ChmlSTIAN FAITH IS FIRST PRESENTED TO THOSE WHO BAVE BEEN BROUGHT up IN SOME FORM OF ERROR. It was opened, through the hand of Paul, to the Gentiles, and multitudes entered in thereat. This may be said whon- lI. THE CIIRISTIAN FAITH IS TAUGHT TO CHILDREN. Then it ls gradually widened as their intelligence opens; it is not long before it is sufficiently open for the soul to pass through and hold intimate and living converse with the Divine Friend. III. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS FIRST PRESENTED TO THE MIND IN AN APPRECUllLE FORH. Always essentially and fundamentally the same, the truth may be represented in such form as to be wholly inappreciable by some minds; but, on the other hand, it may be unfolded in such wise as exactly to meet the needs and satisfy the cra.vings of the soul. 'l'hen there is an opening through which the satisfied intellect can pass, and where the soul may feed and be sustained. Or when- IV. THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS FIRST URGED ON THE CONSCIENCE WITH DIVINE POWER, When all material considerations sink into insignificance and the soul feels, profoundly, that the living truth of God as revealed in Jesus Christ is the one supreme and sovereign thing, then the door is opened wide, through which the soul should pass without delay, for on the inner side of it is (1) rectitude, (2) peace, (3) usefulness, (4) eternal life.-C. Vere. 1-7.-The gospel at Iconium. There was a series of acts and events 8Uch as seem typical of the progress of the gospel elsewhere. I. FAITHFUL AND SUCCESSFUL PREACHING OF THE wORD. Many. Jews and Greeks, believed. This is the one test of true preaching. Is the truth " commended to the conscience"? Are great moral laws brought out distinctly, so that the heart of the people leaps up, in truth set free? He who preaches out of his heart alone reaches to the heart. The arguments tbat have convinced ourselves are the arguments that can alone be expected to convince others. II. OPPOSITION AROUSED. Jewish prejudice still stands in the path of the gospel. But the gospel acquires force as it goes, and actually roots itself the more firmly in men's minds from the very fact that it is able to surmount opposition. III. CONCURRENT DIVINE TESTIMONY. Gud gives h!s servants power to work and to effect good. Deeds of good done to the suffering body or mind are silent words ; just as true words are spiritual deeds. We do not look for miracles, but we ought to look for " signs" that God is with us in the word we speak and the work we do for others. IV. DIVIDED RESULTS. A split takes place in the multitude: some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles. It is by opposition of opinions and feelings that the world is carried on. It does not follow, because division takes place, on the entrance of a new light, that it will be permanent. God's method seems to be to lead men through divisions to deeper unity; by experience of the futility of partial opinions to the deeper insight, which reconciles and satisfies. These divisions were prophetic of wbat has ever lo be in the history of the Church. Ever has there been division marked at every era of new light ar 1d progress. He is in the right wbo follows the light within; aU who seek to follo,v the living Saviour, and such alone, enjoy under every name that ls supposed to divide," the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."--J. Vers. 8-20.-Healing of the lame man at Lystra. The event is chiefly remarkal,l<J for the effect it produced upon the minds of the people of the country and the illuatratio.tl of the apostolic temper and spirit thereby calleu fort.h.  TlIE AC'l'S or THtl: APOSTLES. [mt. nv. 1-28.